Once Silas had given the orders everything moved very quickly. The pack was evacuating and supposed to move in to the 'pack house'. Green fighters were told to stay with the others and stand guard once everyone was safe. Yellow fighters were with Adam and Aaron. They were directed to the main house which I had apparently misunderstood because we were now standing in what I knew of as the pack house. Aaron was annoyed with me at first but once he realized that I had no idea there was another pack house he mellowed out a little. At least Emily, Cassy, and Amelia were safe in this other 'pack house'.

The red fighters had gone with Silas to determine exactly what was going on. I had faith in their ability to gather information without being seen but it still wasn't easy to sit and wait. I made coffee and tea to keep myself busy while Aaron went over procedure and protocol with the yellow group.

Overall, I was impressed by how smoothly the pack handled the emergency. There was some obvious panic but it was organized panic. I understood why they had told everyone to go to the pack house when in fact they were not going to the pack house. Every war seemed to end up back at the pack house. It was not safe because it was predictable. From what I had gathered about the location everyone had been sent to, it was the old pack house of the territory. It was closer to Crescent moons territory which meant easily reinforced or evacuated by our allies.

Once Aaron had finished going over the procedure the house settled into an eerie silence. Aaron, Matthew, Adam, and Kyson stood waiting. There was nothing we could do until Silas returned with information. There were only two potential outcomes. Negotiations or blood. We all hoped for negotiations but the infiltration was so unexpected that it seemed more likely this attack was meant for blood.

Several footsteps on the porch alerted us that Silas had returned. Just behind him was Quinn and Alex. Logan and Zac came through the door last and closed it.

"It's Wolfsbane." Silas said. His eyes immediately found me standing in the kitchen and he tilted his head in question. Feeling self-conscious and out of place I glanced down at the leggings and baggy sweat shirt I had thrown on. I should have gone for pants or something more fighting appropriate but I hadn't been thinking clearly.

"Why?" Aaron demanded.

"Jackson's death and entering their territory without permission to remove that facility. Both can be interpreted as acts of war." Zac said leaning against the counter. "We should have expected this."

~Is it Johnathan or Alvin?~ I asked and everyone looked at me. ~If it's Johnathan he will negotiate. I can talk to him myself-~

"Absolutely not." Silas interrupted. "If these negotiations turn sour I don't want you in the middle of it. You shouldn't even be here." Silas said.

"She was never briefed on the evacuation protocol, she didn't know." Aaron said.

'I'm already in the middle of this. If Johnathan took over as Alpha I can talk him down. He knows me. He'll trust me.' I signed.

"And if it's not?" Silas asked. "If it's this other one... Alvin...?"

'He's a prideful idiot. They both are but that doesn't mean that they aren't willing to see reason.' I signed.

"No." Silas said again.

~Don't do that!~ I said.

"Protect you?" Silas asked. "You're not even healed from the last time you were in the hospital. I'm not letting you run head first into a fight."

~This isn't about you and I. This about your pack and as an Alpha you have a duty to put them first. That includes taking advantage of the strengths your pack members have. Strengths that I have. I can do this. I know these men. I know how they think, I know what they'll do, and I know how to handle them. I have the strength here that you need. Don't undervalue me the way that he did.~

Silas jaw clinched and he grabbed my arm gently guiding me away from the others. Once we were around the corner he leaned in close so that no one else could hear.

"Do not ever compare me to Jackson again. I am nothing like him and there is no greater insult you could throw at me." He said very quietly. My breath caught. I hadn't even considered how hard my comment would hit Silas. I hadn't meant to compare them as mates and I certainly shouldn't have tried to compare them as Alpha's.

'I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that.' I signed.

Silas nodded.

"You will follow every direction I give you. If I say leave you need to leave." Silas said.

I nodded.

"Do not draw attention to yourself. We don't know what they know. They may consider you a deserter and I don't want you to become their target. You can give me information without drawing attention. If it gets heated you take your ass back here. No fighting, no arguing, and no hesitation." Silas said

I nodded. I was shocked that he was going to allow me to go at all.



Quinn was glued to myside. Between him, Alex, and Zac I couldn't even see who else was on the field. It was going to be impossible to tell Silas anything about what was going on if I couldn't even see the person he was negotiating with.

My legs had already gone numb from the combination of cold and adrenaline. I didn't know the extent of Willow Packs strengths the same way that I knew Wolfsbane's. Willow Pack would easily out number Wolfsbane but a pack that prides themselves on discipline and fear would not back down easily no matter the numbers.

I glanced up at the moon. It wasn't full enough for any decent lighting but that would be beneficial in making sure negotiations were run on a man to man discussion instead of wolf to wolf. The poor lighting would be good for Willow's wolves if the negotiations turned. Being the home pack gave them the advantage over terrain. Unlike Wolfsbane they wouldn't need to see everything in order to navigate properly.

I felt it the second Wolfsbanes leaders stepped out of the trees. The tension in the air became palpable and all the wolves near me tensed.

"You wish to negotiate after attacking us? Someone spoke. I recognized the voice immediately but there was no way Gregory had taken over as Alpha. There was always a clear line of succession in Wolfsbane and Greg was not even in the top twenty potentials.

~That's Gregory Dyson. There's no way he is Alpha.~ I warned Silas. Something sketchy was going on here. Sending Gregory out showed that they were not serious about these negotiations.

"We have not attacked anyone. I wish to negotiate with your Alpha only." Silas said.

"You murdered our Alpha in cold blood and then attacked our lands while we were down. You may speak with me." Greg said.

~He's a childish wolf with a quick temper. Small words are best.~ I sent Silas.

"I challenged your Alpha and he accepted. What we did was not only legal but in the best interests of both packs. Jackson was an unfit leader and a criminal." Silas said.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh. I could feel Greg's temper rising without having to see him. I needed to know if Johnathan and the others were close enough to hear Silas. I focused on Greg. Picturing his position in relationship to those of Willow Pack. With my eyes closed I could imagine their placement almost as light sources. I focused on the lights and realized I could see many more of them hidden behind Greg in the trees. I opened my eyes and glanced at the trees. I caught Matthew's eyes and he nodded. They already knew the other wolves were there.

"That's an outdated tradition that was banned by the council. We are here to settle your wrong doing. Blood for Blood Brogan." Greg said.

"There is no need for blood tonight. Starting a war with Willow pack, one of the largest packs in out nation, will only ensure Wolfsbane's demise." Logan spoke up.

Gregory growled.

Logan's returning growl was feral and vicious. Gregory took a step back and I could finally see him. His face showed more rage than fear.

"Enough. We don't wish to see Wolfsbane's end. No one else needs to die because of Jackson's incompetence." Silas voice hardened.

"Alpha Daniels was a fierce leader. He ensured our way of life was not threatened and destroyed. The only incompetence I see here is you!" Greg said.

Logan took a step forward and Silas arm shot to stop him.

"Jackson allowed a concentration camp of women and children to be hidden on pack lands. He participated in the abuse, rape, and murder of dozens of women AND children. Your Alpha was a sociopath. Silas did you a favor." Logan said.

"You have no proof of that!" Greg sneered.

"I have over 100 wolves worth of proof." Logan sneered back.

"It sounds like you have hostages. Members of our pack taken and held against their will... Well we have hostages too." Greg glanced back toward the trees. Three more men stepped out. Each of them had a hold of a hostage. I recognized each of the men as well as their captives. Sam, Chad, and Claire were being held hostage. All three were considered yellow fighters so they had likely been on patrol when they were ambushed. I focused on the captors. Johnathan, Alvin, and Riker.

~Johnathan has Claire. He's in charge. Alvin is second, he has Sam. And Riker is third with Chad.~ I told Silas. I was certain of their titles now that I could see them. The Alpha in charge would have chosen their most important hostage to hold, Claire. One thing that was always strange about Wolfsbane was that they knew how important women were for survival of the species and yet still refused to allow them equal rights.

"We have you surrounded. We have your wolves. If you wish to leave here with any survivors then I suggest you surrender to our terms." Greg said. "Blood for blood."

"We decline. If you wish to fight we can do so on a one to one basis but I assure you if this turns to war Wolfsbane is through." Silas said.

"There is no fair fight to be had when it comes to a monster like you!" Greg spat.

"So fight me." Aaron spoke up. "I'm not a warrior wolf. We can fight this out like normal wolves. If I win you leave Willow territory and release the hostages unharmed, if you win we will honor your terms."

Greg glanced back at the hostages as if considering Aaron's offer. He scanned each one slowly but his eyes lingered on Johnathan. Johnathan gave a slight tilt of his head. It was an agreement.

"Will you honor this?" Greg asked Silas.

"No lives are to be lost during this fight." Silas said.

"That's not how this works." Greg said.

"Then no deal. If you wish for a chance to spill my blood then these are my terms. If we must go to war because of your own stupidity then so be it." Silas said.

"You would risk your pack to save your own neck?" Johnathan spoke up. He jerked Claire's head back as he spoke.

"I have enough faith in my fighters to place my trust with them instead of risking the life of my beta and his pregnant mate." Silas said. His words seemed to settle heavily on the fighters of Willow pack. We all knew about Aaron and Emily's situation. Silas was right to put his foot down to protect Emily and the baby. Innocent lives came before fighters, always.

"No one dies in the fight." Johnathan conceded. He shoved Claire toward Greg as he stepped forward. He had agreed rather quickly. It was as if he hadn't even considered Silas proposal. My skin crawled as I realized he probably hadn't. He didn't need to hear Silas reasons if he was going to do what he wanted either way. I knew without a doubt that he had no intention of honoring their deal. If he got the chance to go for the kill with Aaron he was going to do it.

~Aaron don't!~ I said. Aaron glanced back at me, smiled, and shook his head. He wasn't worried about this fight at all and yet everything in me screamed that he should be.